This is a very belated post that I have been trying to take a part in, but when you read the post to follow, all will be clear. My very kind and one of my favorite bloggers have graciously nominated me for having a very inspiring blog. To know that what you do and what you are trying to spread within the sea of writers and bloggers are not going by unnoticed, and that they are being appreciated is the greatest gift I can get, and for that, I thank you with the bottom of my heart, Ol’ Big Jim. :)

So Let’s talk rules:

Thank the person who nominated you, and link to their blog.

Display the award logo.

Nominate at least 15 other blogs and provide a link where they may be found. Then go to their blog, leave a comment to let them know they’ve been nominated, and where to find the information they need to accept (rules).

Mention three things that inspired you the most during the past few weeks.

First of all, I have to say, that the third rule is one of the reasons I almost decided not to participate, because I honestly been away from blogging for far too long and I have been reading fewer posts than usual. But even though, giving credit to the few is better than not giving credit at all. I would like to congrats those out there who also have been a big inspiration to me and I would like to nominate them as a way of encouragement, a way to say “Keep up the great work, I love what you are doing.”

1- Kelsey Ketch. She has always supported everyone who are trying to have their voices heard. She kindly provides the chances any author would like to have, she is a true supporter of her fellow writers… and her debated novels are just what I am waiting for after I have read all the reviews of Daughter of Isis, and Son of Seth.

2- Paula Acton. Her blog has brought delight to me on many occasions, but what she does outside her blogging world is in fact inspiring. She had helped in participating in the fund raising for a Hospice so that the building would provide the needs of the patients and also the needs and comfort of the family who can very often be spending hours daily at the hospice. The world needs more kind people, and I would like to give my appreciation today to one at least.

3- Yi-Ching Lin. If inspiration has an eye, it would surely be resting on the hands of one of my favorite photographers. Her images are really inspiring, with each view Yi-Ching witnesses its effect first hand through her beautiful words she associate with each picture.

4- Indira. A poetic blog, inspiring to all senses, and to the soul. She shares her poems and her own vision of India, and it is really heart warming. She a keen reader and I love how much she encourages posts that inspires her.

5- Jordan. A single mother with two beautiful daughters and a good writer. What she is doing a truly inspiring to women out there.

Now here are the three things that have gave me hope, made me smile, and thank god I am alive now.

1- My nephew, the one I love the most, was diagnosed with a case of mild autism. My brother, his dad, and my nephew’s mother were sad, and they lost hope. They did not know how to deal with him and how to control him. I had to be there for the little kid, me and his grandmother have done our best for him… and now… he had recovered. Three tests and they all say that he had recovered. He is talking more, looking at our eyes and understands what we want from him. He is now three years old. His recovery that followed our very excruciating work inspired me to say that everything is possible.

2- I have been planning to create a new comic book, something that is different than my usual medium in story telling, since I have only published books. I have been searching for an artist to help me but I couldn’t find one. Eventually, it was that setback that helped me see it through. I started to teach myself how to draw, and eventually. Here I am… with a new comic book about to be published, along with a new book.

3- Last week I got interviewed. The reason why I mention that is because the questions I had to answer had really reminded me why I started writing. I sometimes forget how it felt like, but when I had that interview, it really opened my eyes, and encouraged me to keep going forward.

Sadness and sorrow have delayed me from writing this post, for I am grief stricken by the awful act against the Magazine known as Charlie Hebdo. Paralyzed for days now, I realized that it is my duty to address that issue. I have always tried to shy away from politics and religion, but today I decided to break that rule, I owe it to the victims and to the fellow people who believe in what I believe in, I’m not talking about Islam, Christianity or Judaism, I’m talking about humanity.

Charlie Hebdo is known to ridicule many religious groups as a way to exercise their right of speech. I have always believed that everyone have the right to think and say what they want, but no one have the right to offend anyone. An ideal world where everyone respects each other sadly does not exist, and the poor victims of Charlie Hebdo magazine saw their ideal world differently, and maybe tried to change the world by criticizing those who are used as an excuse to prevent Utopia from ever happening.

I’d like to address the victims, their families, the whole world who are stricken by that awful act, and those who support and acted in the name of God and the Prophet because they were ridiculed; those who call themselves Muslims. The book is called the Quran, and as many books in the world, it is created to be read. So I’d like to address them with a verse against those who felt the need to act against the people who spoke ill of our book.

” And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation”

The only thing allowed for you Muslims to do, is to get up, leave until… I repeat, until, they change the conversation. You could be best friends with a Charlie Hebdo cartoonist, as long as he respects you in your presence.

Yet, sadly, all we hear is Jihad, which actually means to strive, but hey, you’re the lingo expert.

A caricature depicting how if Prophet Muhammad returned he will be killed by ISIS terrorists

Let me recite the ten, obvious and strict laws that without a doubt forbids terrorism.

Terrorism is above all murder. Murder is strictly forbidden in the Qur’an. Qur’an 6:151 says, “and do not kill a soul that God has made sacrosanct, save lawfully.” (i.e. murder is forbidden but the death penalty imposed by the state for a crime is permitted). 5:53 says, “… whoso kills a soul, unless it be for murder or for wreaking corruption in the land, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and he who saves a life, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind.”

If the motive for terrorism is religious, it is impermissible in Islamic law. It is forbidden to attempt to impose Islam on other people. The Qur’an says, “There is no compulsion in religion. The right way has become distinct from error.” (-The Cow, 2:256). Note that this verse was revealed in Medina in 622 AD or after and was never abrogated by any other verse of the Quran. Islam’s holy book forbids coercing people into adopting any religion. They have to willingly choose it.

Islamic law forbids aggressive warfare. The Quran says, “But if the enemies incline towards peace, do you also incline towards peace. And trust in God! For He is the one who hears and knows all things.” (8:61) The Quran chapter “The Cow,” 2:190, says, “Fight in the way of God against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! God loveth not aggressors.”

In the Islamic law of war, not just any civil engineer can declare or launch a war. It is the prerogative of the duly constituted leader of the Muslim community that engages in the war. Nowadays that would be the president or prime minister of the state, as advised by the mufti or national jurisconsult.

The killing of innocent non-combatants is forbidden. According to Sunni tradition, ‘Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, the first Caliph, gave these instructions to his armies: “I instruct you in ten matters: Do not kill women, children, the old, or the infirm; do not cut down fruit-bearing trees; do not destroy any town . . . ” (Malik’s Muwatta’, “Kitab al-Jihad.”)

Terrorism orhirabahis forbidden in Islamic law, which groups it with brigandage, highway robbery and extortion rackets– any illicit use of fear and coercion in public spaces for money or power. The principle of forbidding the spreading of terror in the land is based on the Qur’an (Surah al-Ma’ida 5:33–34) ‘Anyone who disturbs free passage in the streets and renders them unsafe to travel, striving to spread corruption in the land by taking money, killing people or violating what God has made it unlawful to violate is guilty of hirabah . . .”

Sneak attacks are forbidden. Muslim commanders must give the enemy fair warning that war is imminent. The Prophet Muhammad at one point gave 4 months notice.

The Prophet Muhammad counseled doing good to those who harm you and is said to have commanded, “Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong (even) if they do evil.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

The Qur’an demands of believers that they exercise justice toward people even where they have reason to be angry with them: “And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.”[5:8]

And last but defiantly not least, the reason why even the whole thing have started and should have been avoided…

10.” And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation”

I would like to end this long post by saying a prayer…

“Dear God, please ease the pain and suffering of the families of the lost beloved, please help the corrupt souls find their right way to you. Please accept the victimized souls into your kingdom in heaven. May they rest in peace”

This is where the magic happens. This is where I decide who lives and who dies, who gets the girl and who gets a broken heart. This is where I experiment, where I create villains and heroes…. hell, this is what prevents me from becoming a criminal master mind, the place where I lock up all my bright, dark, romantic, and funny ideas.

This is where I inspire, this is where I live in body and spirit.
Never underestimate the power of art, for it is a way to give form to your spirit.

Happy 2015, a once in a lifetime celebration. Humanity finally made it here and we are still not enslaved by robots (though I must say we are getting there since our hands are glued to our smart phones)

2014 is done; a history for some unlucky kid to read about in school decades from now. For some, it was a year they will never forget, for others it was a year they wish they can forget. Either way it was a blessing that some of us managed to unravel the disguise it hid itself in. For me it was a full year, full time test of the mind, body, and spirit. It brought me to my yield strength, almost went beyond to break me. But I’ve learned long ago that god does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.

Well, I finished my intern, officially a doctor now… okay okay, a dentist… you won’t see me do “… CLEAR!!” ZAPP!! Anyhow, I finished my intern, wealth and fame should be right afterward, my new clinic, my new brand clothing, tea with the queen every week… well… surprisingly it didn’t happen… plot twist!! I got sick… severe lung infection that no one yet knows what was the cause. So I stayed in bed, coughed blood once in a while, missed my employment date, and couldn’t do a better release for my novel Iblis. The sickness resolved itself, now I’m much much better than I ever was. I jog without coughing, and can actually breath without feeling ticklish between my ribs (only thing I missed :) ).

I returned to my previous plans, found and regrouped with some of my friends and acquaintances who, not so long ago, decided to make a production company, a place where we can have the seeds of our talents and ideas planted and watch them grow. It turned out that they were not cut off for it, how do I know that? Well… I believe people are much like books, and like any book, there are things between the lines that are not written but can be formed through clues of well or poorly chosen words. They eventually wanted to call the company Q80Can (Kuwaiti can… as in a Kuwaiti can do it) and they wanted to focus on things that only attract Kuwaiti viewers. Now, living in Kuwait, one could understand why they thought that way, but I believe if it’s not meant for all, then it’s not art, Kuwait is a very small country, and plus, out of the twelve, only three were actually Kuwaiti, and an international team that only focuses on one place, one culture and a specific demographic viewers. In other words, the idea I have planned to produce with them was about to be altered so that it can only suit one nation. There are already boarders between countries… no need to place boarders in our minds.

I promote this… I am a citizen of the world.

So I contemplated, sulky and still ticklish between the ribs. I didn’t know what to do, I couldn’t find anyone who can bring the ideas buried deep with to life. That was the second question in the test… how will I answer it. In life you either win or lose… not true, you either win or learn.

I saddled up and went on the hunt for an artist who may give form to my vision. Some would say eventually I would find one, but I have been severely unlucky, cursed some may think. The harder I tried the stronger was the fall. Living in Kuwait is one of the issues that is causing my writing career to move at a slower pace.

One would abandon such dreams at that point and call it a day. But not me. When you can’t stop thinking about your idea, when you live in two worlds, when it really hurts that you can’t accomplish it, that’s when you realize how important it is to you. But I ask myself, why is it so hard to make such a thing… is there another plan for how it should be done?

The answer came in a dream. I saw one of our generations best story tellers, Hideo Kojima, all I can say that this person makes me jealous. I told that person how much I hated his success… the answer was…” what is stopping you?” I answered by saying “I have no one to help me with it” Then, right before I woke up, that person said “You make it happen, don’t wait for anyone”.

So, following in the footsteps of one of my favorite motion graphic creators, Brooke Burgess, I decided to learn digital drawing and After Effect. But not until two weeks ago I decided to create everything literally by myself, and I mean Literally; drawing using Manga studio and photoshop, music score using FLStudio, editing usind After Effect, and even voice acting using Adop Audition. A full 26 episodes done entirely by yours truly, in hopes not to just inspire through the story I wrote, but also through the way I’m doing it, to prove that nothing is impossible, everything can be done with a little of faith, passion, tickly ribs, and most importantly, YOU.

I’ll talk more about that of course, for now I’ll just let the pictures do the talking for me.

All the pictures seen are done by moi. It is my first time drawing and it took me a while to find a method that suits a beginner artist like me. I am trying my best to see this episodic story to its end. Story wise it is done, drawing wise just finished drawing episode one. Learning through doing is how I plan to do, through trial and error until something makes sense eventually :).

Here’s where the magic happens. I’m using an Alienware laptop, Bamboo drawing pad and a Yamaha keyboard and some figures to cheer for me.

Well, I guess it is obvious what my new year resolution would be, that and publishing Iblis on bookstores where I am, also, I am working on the third book and I still have Kima, my inspirational story set in 1928 South Africa. So, since my hands are starting to cramp, I’ll leave you with my deepest wishes of happiness and health for you and all your beloved ones.

One more new year’s resolution is to learn this :)

Writing… Well, the act of creating in general, is a rich topic to discuss that can fill the vast weight of the oceans to supply three worlds other than ours, and I believe that with my vague title, I only managed to distort the image I’m try to reflect through my post. So please allow me to explain until the waters settle.

Having a spark of creativity will eventually lead to shedding light on the idea lying dormant within, making it clearer in which manner that idea should grow.
Mmmm… I think the reflection got even more distorted… Well here’s a way to fix it. Storytelling has many forms; it can be made for the ears, rhyming in harmony at key tempos in order to make us imagine a story, it can be made for the mind through tailored words that eventually form a story, and to some extent, a new personality, and finally, it can be made for the eyes; captured through a frame to deliver thousands of words. These are the Isotopes of ideas… Stories can be made in many forms, but in order to make that story stable, we need to let the idea decides in which manner it wants to grow.

So as a story teller, Writing is not my only medium, there are other paths a story chooses to go through, and my recent finished idea will not be made into a novel.

My upcoming project demands that it should be made into a motion comic, a digital graphic animation, that is to say that my idea demands to be presented in images, music, audio and mild motion. I want the idea to grow bigger than that one day, but the initial form will be in that manner, I only hope she will grow into a fine story to share with everyone.

Though I believe I only added a drop of knowledge to the ocean o creativity, but a drop is an oases to those lost in the desert, so I hope I managed to inspire a writer or two with my post. As for my upcoming project, more about that to come in the future.